CHA P. VII. Whether there is any morality of actions, any obligation or duty, antecedent to the laws of nature, and independent of the idea of a legislator. page 202 Sect. 1. Different opinions of ethic writers with respect to the first principle of mo rality. 2. Principles relating to this question. Senfe. ibid. 203 205 4. These three principles ought to be united. ibid. 5. Of the primitive caufe of obligation. 6. All rules are of themselves obligatory. 7. Obligation may be more or lefs ftrong. 8. Reafon alone is fufficient to impofe fome 206 ibid. 208 209 9. Objection. No body can oblige himself. 210 10. Answer. 11. A fresh objection. 12. Duty may be taken in a loose or strict fenfe. 13. Refult of what has been hitherto said. 14. This manner of establishing morality 15. Grotius's opinion examined. 16. In order to have a perfect fyftem of morality, we should join it with re- 211 212 213 214 216 217 218 CHA P. Sect. 1. There is a great deal of ambiguity and 2. Of just, boneft, useful, order, and fit- 3. Just, boneft, and useful, are diftinct things, and must not be confounded. 4. But though they are diftinct, yet they are 5. Whether an action is just, because God ibid. Sect. 1. What is meant by applying the laws to buman actions. 3. Confcience fuppafes a knowledge of the law. ibid. ibid. Sect. Sect. 1. Diftinction of imputability and imputa- 2. Of the nature of imputation. It fup- 4. Principles. 1. We ought not to infer actual imputation from imputability 5. 2. Imputation fuppofes fome connexion 6. 3. Foundations of merit and demerit. 7. In what merit and demerit confifts. i bd. Sect, Sect. 9. 5. Imputation is either fimple or effica cious. 10. 6. Effects of one and the other. page 245 ibid. 11. 7. If all thofe who are concerned, do not to have been done. 12. 8. Difference between the imputation of good and bad actions. CHAP. XI. 246 247 Application of those principles to different fpecies of actions, in order to judge in what manner they ought to be imputed. Sect. 1. What actions are actually imputed? 2. Actions of fuch as have not the ufe of reafon. 3. Of what's done in drunkenness. page 248 ibid. ibid. ibid. 2. Of things that are impoffible. Of the want of opportunity. 3. Of natural qualities. 4. Of events produced by external causes. 5. Of what is done through ignorance or error. ib. 6. Of the effect of temperament, habits, or paffions. 249 ibid. 250 251 7. Of forced actions. 252 8. Forced actions are in themselves either good, bad, or indifferent. 253 9. Why a bad action, though forced, may be imputed. 255 10. Puffendorf's opinion. 257 11. Of actions in which more perfons than 258 Sect. ibid. 2. The obfervance of natural laws forms the happiness of man and fociety. 3. Explications on the state of the que- 5. Proofs by experience. 1. Virtue is of it- felf the principle of an inward fa- tisfaction; and vice a principle of 6. Of external goods and evils, which are the confequence of virtue and 7. Thefe different effects of virtue and vice are still greater among those who are invested with power and authori- 8. Confirmation of this truth by the confef- 9. Confirmation of the fame truth by the ibid. Sect. |